Fresno State Athletics
No. 11 Fresno State slated to face Cal Lutheran in NCAA Tournament
5/3/2021 9:10:00 PM | Water Polo
INDIANAPOLIS – Fresno State will make its National Collegiate Women's Water Polo Championship debut against Cal Lutheran in the opening round on May 12 at 1 p.m. PT. Bulldogs earned the first automatic bid in program history after winning the Golden Coast Conference Championship.
The winner of the contest between the Bulldogs and the Regals will face Stanford (12-5) on Friday, May 14.
"It's a great feeling to see our name up in the championship bracket," head coach Natalie Benson said. "It feeling more real now that our opening round opponent has been set.The team is excited to get going!Â
Â
The NCAA Women's Water Polo Committee announced today the 10 teams contending for the 2021 National Collegiate Women's Water Polo Championship. The championship will be hosted by UCLA, held at the Spieker Aquatics Center in Los Angeles and streamed live on ncaa.com.
Cal Lutheran (5-0) earned its automatic bid after winning the SCIAC Championship Tournament. This is the Regals are not strangers to the tournament, they also earned the conference automatic bid in 2019. Â
The Bulldogs own the all-time series against the Regals 1-0. Fresno State defeated Cal Lutheran in 2019 at the Tina Finali Invitational.
Fresno State finished the regular season with an overall record of 10-5 (6-1 GCC). The Bulldogs took a piece of the GCC regular season championship after recording a program-best six wins in conference play, finishing in a three-way tie for first place with San Diego State and Pacific. This marked the first GCC regular season title in program history. Concluding regular season play, The Bulldogs tabbed two first team, one second team and two freshman team All-GCC selections. Five is the most honorees that Fresno State has earned in program history.
Daphne Guevremont and Emily Nicholson were named All-GCC First Team honorees. Callie Woodruff earned an All-GCC Second Team nod. Kaitlin Howarth and Cynthia Rosa rounded out the Bulldogs' postseason awards. Howarth was named a GCC All-Freshman First Team selection while Rosa tallied All-Freshman Second Team honors.
The 'Dogs won their first GCC Tournament Championship in program history with a 14-10 victory over the second-seeded and 13th-ranked San Diego State. Claire Schade led the Bulldogs with five points in the game, scoring a hat trick with two assists. The senior finished the tournament leading the field with eight assists and 12 points to earn Tournament MVP honors. Nicholson led all-scorers in the contest with four goals. Woodruff had a goal, an assist and a steal in the title game. Nicholson and Woodruff joined Schade on the GCC All-Tournament Team.
The Bulldogs will head to the National Collegiate Women's Water Polo Championships with a 12-5 overall record.Â
Conferences receiving automatic qualification included the Big West Conference, Collegiate Water Polo Association, Golden Coast Conference, Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Association and the Western Water Polo Association. The remaining three teams were selected at-large without geographical restrictions.
For more information about the National Collegiate Women's Water Polo Championship and the 2021 championship bracket, log on to ncaa.com.
Â
"Fresno State Athletics: The Pride of the Valley" – The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in life. To become a BDF member, please call 559-278-7160.
Follow us on:
Twitter:Â FresnoStateWP
Instagram:Â FresnoStateWP
Facebook:Â FresnoStateAthletics
Â
The winner of the contest between the Bulldogs and the Regals will face Stanford (12-5) on Friday, May 14.
"It's a great feeling to see our name up in the championship bracket," head coach Natalie Benson said. "It feeling more real now that our opening round opponent has been set.The team is excited to get going!Â
Â
The NCAA Women's Water Polo Committee announced today the 10 teams contending for the 2021 National Collegiate Women's Water Polo Championship. The championship will be hosted by UCLA, held at the Spieker Aquatics Center in Los Angeles and streamed live on ncaa.com.
Cal Lutheran (5-0) earned its automatic bid after winning the SCIAC Championship Tournament. This is the Regals are not strangers to the tournament, they also earned the conference automatic bid in 2019. Â
The Bulldogs own the all-time series against the Regals 1-0. Fresno State defeated Cal Lutheran in 2019 at the Tina Finali Invitational.
Fresno State finished the regular season with an overall record of 10-5 (6-1 GCC). The Bulldogs took a piece of the GCC regular season championship after recording a program-best six wins in conference play, finishing in a three-way tie for first place with San Diego State and Pacific. This marked the first GCC regular season title in program history. Concluding regular season play, The Bulldogs tabbed two first team, one second team and two freshman team All-GCC selections. Five is the most honorees that Fresno State has earned in program history.
Daphne Guevremont and Emily Nicholson were named All-GCC First Team honorees. Callie Woodruff earned an All-GCC Second Team nod. Kaitlin Howarth and Cynthia Rosa rounded out the Bulldogs' postseason awards. Howarth was named a GCC All-Freshman First Team selection while Rosa tallied All-Freshman Second Team honors.
The 'Dogs won their first GCC Tournament Championship in program history with a 14-10 victory over the second-seeded and 13th-ranked San Diego State. Claire Schade led the Bulldogs with five points in the game, scoring a hat trick with two assists. The senior finished the tournament leading the field with eight assists and 12 points to earn Tournament MVP honors. Nicholson led all-scorers in the contest with four goals. Woodruff had a goal, an assist and a steal in the title game. Nicholson and Woodruff joined Schade on the GCC All-Tournament Team.
The Bulldogs will head to the National Collegiate Women's Water Polo Championships with a 12-5 overall record.Â
Conferences receiving automatic qualification included the Big West Conference, Collegiate Water Polo Association, Golden Coast Conference, Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Association and the Western Water Polo Association. The remaining three teams were selected at-large without geographical restrictions.
For more information about the National Collegiate Women's Water Polo Championship and the 2021 championship bracket, log on to ncaa.com.
Â
"Fresno State Athletics: The Pride of the Valley" – The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in life. To become a BDF member, please call 559-278-7160.
Follow us on:
Twitter:Â FresnoStateWP
Instagram:Â FresnoStateWP
Facebook:Â FresnoStateAthletics
Â
Players Mentioned
/ Water Polo
/ Water Polo
/ Water Polo
/ Water Polo
/ Water Polo
/ Water Polo
WP: GCC Championship Quarterfinal vs CUI [4.25.25]
Saturday, April 26
WP highlight vs CUI [2.22.25]
Saturday, February 22
WP highlight vs Redlands [2.15.25]
Tuesday, February 18
WP highlight vs Fresno Pacific [2/15/25]
Saturday, February 15